Notes from An Alien

1 ~ Splendor

He was ready to go but delayed slipping the bonds for a moment as he bid farewell in his mind to the daughter he'd never met. He knew his work for the Angan Corporation was critical---he was the leader of the first expedition to another World; but, Velu, his unknown daughter, would probably not know he'd done it.

"Rednaxela", said his Artificial Intelligence unit from its space on the console, "we are fourteen seconds past the time set for slipping the magnetic bonds."

"Yes, Morna, my dearest AI, I know; bidding farewell to folks in my mind."

"The part of your mind I will not let myself access."

"Yes, Morna, the only part of myself that's still private."

"Twenty-five seconds past bond-slipping."

"Initiate, Morna."

The two-mile-wide, circular ship released its invisible hold on the mooring dock and began its 2,800,000-mile voyage to the planet next out from Anga in the Angi System---planet of mystery, inhabited by people completely engrossed in religion---Anla, the destination of Rednaxela, his thoughts, and 95,000 passengers.

Morna continued verbalizing her obligatory oversight tasks: "Plasma screen active, passengers secure, orbital laser supplying thrust, tethered laser stable, light-sail stable, ship systems nominal."

ShipOne it was called: a simple, efficient name that Rednaxela did not like. Something more was called for, some larger idea---Proteus, Primus, something; even Rugra-One, its Class name. He strode to the hatch leading to the transport tube as he said, "Morna, I'm going to check on our prize passenger."

"Only place worth going on a ship full of criminals."

"Settlers, Morna, settlers."

"Yes, criminal-settlers."

"It's a good thing you're my AI and not a child of the Corporate Mesh."

"It's a good thing we have plasma shielding from the Corporate Mesh."

The arrangement was completely unique but absolutely necessary. The Mesh, corporate or public, operated through electronics that were capable of responding to the streams of plasma surrounding and interpenetrating Anga. The Mesh was the Corporation's mode of communication and control and it was critical to the planet's efficient operation. Yet, this voyage, made when Anga and Anla were closest in their orbits, had to be flown through the plasma tail that Anga streamed away from its star. The plasma tail reached to Anla and beyond and, because of the closeness of the planets, it was a tail that could clearly carry the thoughts and feelings of every passenger into the minds of the priests on Anla, priests who were expecting merely settlers, not criminals. To be more precise, they were not expecting any criminals except Akla who Rednaxela was on his way to see.

"Morna, the shielding is to keep the Anlans from---"

"Rednaxela!"

He'd never heard her raise her voice.

"Do please continue, my sweet AI."

"I know why the Corporation chose you but they didn't take enough time to analyze the results of our interaction."

"Morna, what the hell are you talking about?"

"You are the Corporation's ambassador but I think you could also be their worst nightmare."

"Morna, I wish you had an off switch. Look, we'll talk about your speculations later. I need to go perform my duty as an interrogator."

Rednaxela stepped over the sill of the hatch but stepped right back into the bridge. He walked up to the AI's physical form---a box of exotic, plasma-infused electronics---and said: "What do you make of the Anlans' specifically asking for Akla?"